Minutes
October 12, 2006
Present: Henry C. CobbDaniel Boyer
C. Peter Cole
Norman John Arrison
Patricia Daniels
Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Bob Holtorf
David Holtorf
Jane Duffy
Daniel Duffy
Wes Hazeltine, Public Works Superintendent
1. Call to Order by Chairperson: Mr. Cobb called the Select Board meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday October 12, 2006 at Martin Memorial Hall.
2. Comments from Citizens: David Holtorf was present with his father to observe the meeting as he is working on the Boy Scout merit badge.
Mr. Cobb mentioned the auction on Saturday October 21, 2006 to benefit the Weathersfield Veterans Memorial Committee and said donations are needed.
Mr. Boyer said he received the National Information Management System book at the last Fire Commission meeting.
3. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting (s): Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the minutes dated September 21, 2006, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. One correction was noted. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Monthly Reports:
-Highway: Mr. Hazeltine said they finished up on Stoughton Pond Road, the salt and sand is up to date and next week they will do ditch work on Bowen Hill.
-Land Use: Report from Mrs. Bearse in packet
- Police: No report received this month. Mr. Melen mentioned Officer McNamara is on in-active duty.
5. Application for Easement within Right-of-Way of TH #9, Gravelin Road
Installation of Underground Power Line, Daniel and Jane Duffy: Mr. Melen said the Duffy’s are requesting an easement to install underground power. Mr. Cobb asked why we are looking at this; he didn’t have to come before the Select Board during his recent installation, why can’t we delegate this authority to Mr. Hazeltine? Mr. Melen said he treated this request the same as when he receives a request from a utility company. Mr. Melen said this is the first customer owned request, usually the utility company’s requests come before the Board.
Mr. Boyer made the motion to grant Mr. & Mrs. Duffy the easement to install underground service in the Town right-of-way into their property and authorize Mr. Melen to sign the easement. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
6. Application Large Gathering Permit
Veterans Memorial Committee: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the large gathering permit for the Veterans Memorial Committee, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Motion passed 4 – 0 with one abstention.
7. Budget – Fiscal Year 2007-2008
Cost of Living Adjustments: Mr. Melen said he has started working on the budget and has put CPI information in the packet for the Board. It was the consensus of the Board to use the North East region figures for budget purposes.
Catamount Health Program: Mr. Melen said effective in April the Catamount Health Program, a State wide insurance plan, will provide coverage for all uncovered wage earners in the State of Vermont. We will be required to report all hours worked for our employees not covered by our insurance program. Employees covered elsewhere and elected officials do not count. He said we would probably be exempt from paying the first time because we have five or less that qualify. He said this would be tracked as a new line item starting in April 2007.
Mr. Melen said that at the end of the first quarter there is $86,000 in the Highway Equipment Fund. He said after a municipal discount and a trade we could get a new all wheel drive grader for approximately $200,000 therefore, would have to borrow about $125,000. Originally we discussed doing a ten-year bond, he suggested thinking about doing a five-year note instead. Mr. Cobb asked when the new grader would be before the voters, Mr. Melen said this Town meeting. Mr. Cobb asked what figure was originally used; Mr. Melen said $250,000. Mr. Cobb asked why the difference, Mr. Melen said the municipal discount was the difference, he said Putney just got a new grader for about $170,000.
9. Old Business:
A. Murray Flats Dry Hydrant Status and Bridge Abutment: Mr. Melen said he and Mr. Hazeltine have talked about this and they are going down to see about taking it out. Mr. Hazeltine said he would look at the hydrant and take out what needs to be removed. Mr. Cobb said last time we met we talked about getting the stream permit and removing the hydrant and we should go ahead and remove it.
B. Ascutney Fire District Letter: Mr. Melen said Mrs. Daniels has worked on the names. Mrs. Daniels said she will meet with Carolyn and will flag all properties within the fire district from the Grand List. Mr. Cobb asked when the letter would go out, after discussion it was decided the letter should be ready to approve at the first meeting in November. Mr. Melen said the meeting would require a 30-day posting. It was decided the letter should go out in time for the meeting to be held in February.
C. Upper Falls Covered Bridge Restoration: Mr. Melen said that on October 2, 2006 we received complete preliminary plans for the bridge, he said a set of the plans has been sent to Neil (Daniels). Mr. Melen mentioned they would need a construction easement, which the Town will help them get.
D. Cady Hill Road: Mr. Melen said we have not received any response from the property owner. Mr. Cobb asked what the date was we asked to have a response by, Mr. Melen said November 1.
E. Revaluation Contract: Mr. Melen said they are having problems getting their Insurance Company to sign the insurance certificate and they don’t want to sign the contract until they have the insurance information in hand. Mr. Arrison asked if we were asking for something unusual, Mr. Melen said no we are asking for a completion bond. Mr. Cobb said he thought they were supposed to start on October 1, Mr. Melen said they were suppose to start PR work on October 1.
Mr. Arrison asked if this same company was doing Springfield now, Mr. Melen said yes. Mr. Arrison suggested we talk to the Springfield Town Manager to see if they asked for the completion bond.
The consensus of the Board was to work on this and resolve it within a week. Mr. Cobb said he would like a recommendation from the Lister’s at the meeting next week as to what they want to do.
F. Emergency Services Dispatch Contract: Mr. Melen said we received a revised proposal from the Town of Windsor. They will charge each department $600 and keep the same per call fee. Mr. Arrison asked if the hold harmless language has been changed, Mr. Melen said the latest policy he saw says we will list each other. It was requested to table this until the next meeting.
10. New Business
A. Town Highway 67, Abandoned Mobile Home on Right-of-Way: Mr. Melen said there are two mobile homes behind the Bow Church and Flo-Ann is looking back through old Bill-of-Sales to see who the owners are. Mr. Cobb asked if they were blocking the right-of-way, Mr. Melen said they are within our right-of-way. Mr. Cobb asked who owns the road, Mr. Melen said we do it is a Class IV highway. After discussion it was noted we do not own the road, we have a right-of-way through the property. Mr. Cobb asked to have the research done by Flo-Ann for the next meeting. Mr. Melen said he may have to talk to Town Counsel if they were not legally moved there to see what our next step will be.
Mr. Melen noted Mrs. Bearse is talking with the Bow Association regarding cleaning up debris behind the church. Mrs. Daniels said they know who it is that dumped there, they have witnesses. Mr. Melen said it is a police issue at this point, it could be a criminal offense.
B. Animal Control Ordinance, First Reading: Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the first reading of the Animal Control Ordinance and move it forward to the second reading. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
11. Sign Treasurer’s Warrants: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Warrants as follows:
General Fund Payroll $22,213.32
General Fund Operating Expense $23,807.94
Highway Fund Payroll $20,658.33
Highway Fund Operating Expense $36,951.52Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 2,374.42
Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $11,123.78
Grants $ 58.60
Agency Money $ 3,664.10
Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Mr. Melen said it is high because it is a three-week cycle. Motion carried unanimously.
13. Next Meeting’s Agenda Items: AMPTA (revaluation), dispatch contract, mobile home status, second reading of the animal control ordinance. Mr. Melen said Chris should be here to answer warrant questions and he will ask the Lister’s to attend for the revaluation contract questions. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to talk to him about the agenda before he leaves for the day.
12. Executive Session: Mr. Boyer made the motion to go into executive session for the purpose of real estate, litigation and personnel. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
14. Adjourn: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. The Weathersfield Select Board meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday October 12, 2006.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Sargent
Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on November 2, 2006
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Henry C. Cobb
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Norman John Arrison
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Daniel Boyer
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C. Peter Cole
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Patricia Daniels
Dispatch contract
Mobile homes behind Bow Church
Animal Control Ordinance, second reading
Town revaluation contract
Fire District letters and meeting
Tenney Hill
Visit from Michael Smith
Highway truck bid specs
Name of Chairpersons of various committees